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Thursday, August 27th, 2009
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9:11 pm - An In-between Time
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The wind is blowing outside in a way that sounds like winter but isn't. It smells like fall but isn't. Earlier it looked like summer but isn't. Every day right now is an odd mix of seasons that brings about a similar mix of feelings. I suppose the rather unknown nature of the weather just mimics the rather unknown nature of my life right now. soon enough I'll have some kind of plan figured out... at least maybe through October. Maybe.
current mood:  indescribable
current music: Nothing cause something's up with my computer's sound.
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| Tuesday, August 25th, 2009
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11:45 pm - Just Before Bed
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I just discovered that Animalympics has a Wikipedia entry! And apparently some company in Germany has released it on dvd!
In other news, I'm sick with a cold. Feeling a bit better than I was a few days ago, but this is the worst time for it considering my dissertation is due on Sept. 7th. Effing hell.
Ok, time to sleep so I can get up at a reasonable hour tomorrow to work.
current mood:  sick
current music: Nothing cause I'm going to bed.
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| Monday, August 17th, 2009
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2:22 pm - I Can Has Internet?
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Yes, I can! I'm back online at home. More on the story later and updates on how the show went. For now though, I need to have some lunch.
current mood:  jubilant
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| Wednesday, August 5th, 2009
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6:31 am - My Alarm Goes Off In 44 Minutes
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I have not yet slept. Today is going to suck.
I've got a hair appointment at 10:15 then I'll have the afternoon to do dissertation work until rehearsal at 5.00. We'll be done at 9.00, but then it'll be close to 10:00 by the time I get home. I really need the research time, but I might need a nap more. Oh, if only I could move my hair appointment. Though to be honest, I'm not sure I could sleep right now even if I had the time.
I've been reading old, old, old lj entries and it's renewed my desire to update. So here's to hoping that I stick with it.
current mood:  tired
current music: Nothing.
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2:15 am - Sleep Is Fickle
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I can't sleep even though I'm tired. I nearly fell asleep on the couch downstairs many, many hours ago but since it was not even 8:00pm, I pushed through and stayed awake. Now Hypnos is punishing me.
Rehearsals have been going well overall. Some days are better than others. Mostly I'm looking forward to the show being done. That sounds bad probably, but I've got so much other stuff going on that I'm ready to have more of my own time back to take care of non-show things... like my dissertation.
For more info on the show, you can check out our website: The Common Good.
current mood: tired
current music: Nothing.
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| Saturday, August 1st, 2009
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8:16 am - Robot +2
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I'm a birthday princess today. Not doing anything special. We've got costume fittings and rehearsal. I might grab a drink after that, but since I'll have all the props and stuff with me, it's unlikely that I'll be able to do much else.
I was recently reminded of how much I love food on a stick and I started trying to think back to when my love of food on a stick began. Was it at Ren Fest with the chicken on a stick booths? No, even earlier than that. I believe it can be traced to Chicken Chan, a long-extinct fast food place in Metcalf South Mall. I can still remember going up the escalator and begging my mom to go to Chicken Chan. They had chicken tenders, you guessed it, on a stick. They also had perhaps the best cottage fries I've ever had (though maybe nostalgia colors my evaluation of them now). It was an incredibly small place, just a counter where you ordered, maybe one or two small tables and a counter along the wall where you could sit to eat. Getting a paper basket of chicken on a stick and cottage fries and sitting on one of the tall counter stools with my feet dangling toward the floor was a joy. I remember playing with the sticks afterward and thinking how much more fun they made chicken tenders. Hats off to you, Chicken Chan.
I just did a quick search for Chicken Chan and found this little article from the St. Petersburg Times in 1980 about the opening of a Charlie Chan. I have stand corrected that the place was called Charlie Chan and not Chicken Chan, but in my head, they will always be Chicken Chan.
current mood:  nostalgic
current music: My Name Is Jonas - Weezer
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| Friday, July 10th, 2009
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10:46 pm - That Was A Waste Of 98 Minutes
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I just finished watching The Ramen Girl with Brittany Murphy. I figured it wouldn't be great, but I hoped that I might at least come away from it with something more than a little over an hour and a half of my life gone and a desire for tsukimi soba. Alas, this was not the case. Since I seemed to have downloaded the edited version and it looks like the running time listed on the movie for European markets is nearly a half hour longer, I wonder if those extra minutes would make it better or worse.
I can say, however, that The Young Victoria was a very pretty movie to watch. I have no idea about its accuracy, but it was beautifully made regardless.
I probably should have gotten more work done today, but I've been feeling under the weather all day. So I feel justified in taking a few hours out to watch movies.
Monday Jackie, Warren and I are headed on a quick jaunt somewhere outside of the city proper to meet with some of the higher-ups at the Chernobyl Children's Lifeline, which is the charity to which all the proceeds from the show I'm producing are going. We're going to discuss a relationship between them and the show and to see about having someone with personal experience of the disaster and the aftermath come and speak to the cast.
Next Friday and Saturday we are headed to the Isle of Wight to see about costume stuff. I'm hoping we'll also have a chance to take a look around from a tourist perspective. Well, not Warren so much since he's from there, but I'd like to at least. Perhaps I can grab a photo of Yarmouth Castle for my mom even though the famous ship wasn't named for this particular Yarmouth Castle (I don't think). Too bad we have work to do or I'd demand a trip to Blackgang Chine which is apparently the oldest amusement park in the UK and possibly the world, especially since they have Crossbones ("a pirate themed adventure playground") and a place called Rumpus Mansion (heehee, rumpus).
current mood:  okay
current music: Nothing cause I'm headed to bed soon.
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2:22 pm - Sometimes The Universe Likes Me
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So I'm now planning a US Tour in September. I'm thinking I should get tshirts made. I'm looking at hitting up KC, Philly, Seattle, Chicago and Dubuque. There are certain already scheduled dates and places, but I'm still figuring out some of the more flexible times. However, it manages to work itself out that I will hopefully get to see some fantastic shows and see a bunch of wonderful people.
Scheduled Dates
12th - Lawrence, KS - Murder By Death @ Bottleneck
19th - Philadelphia, PA - Kurt Halsey Art Opening @ Art Star
20th - Philadelphia, PA - The Weakerthans @ World Cafe
21st - Seattle, WA - Pearl Jam @ Key Arena
22nd - Seattle, WA - Pearl Jam @ Key Arena
26th - Dubuque, IA - Wedding
If only I could get Against Me and Jonah in the listings...
current mood: pleased
current music: Coming Home - Murder By Death
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| Tuesday, June 16th, 2009
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10:53 pm - The Sidewalks Are Watching Me Think About You
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Prior to the last few months, it's been a long time since someone I cared about moved away from me when I wasn't also moving away from a place. The last time was May of 2004. I remember that it hurt like hell, but time and distance had dulled the memory of just how much that meant. During the past month the universe has contrived to remind me what it feels like to be one of the ones who's left instead of being the one who's leaving. Two of my very dear friends on the course have returned to their lives Stateside and I can't help but realize that their stories have now diverged from mine. We say we'll keep in touch, and we will, for a while... trading emails with less and less frequency, with less and less substance. We say we'll visit, and maybe we will, but probably more as an additional perk of going to a place rather than a purposeful trip. Maybe I'm pessimistic. Maybe I'm just melancholy with a dual loss in short succession. Maybe I'm picking at old scars while tending to new cuts. All I know is my heart hurts. And I'm sorry for all the times I've been the one who's leaving and made the ones who're left feel this way.
current mood:  sad
current music: Left And Leaving - The Weakerthans
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| Tuesday, June 9th, 2009
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11:39 pm - Things I Didn't Realize I'd Miss When I Moved To England
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1- Egg whites sold in containers in the grocery store
2- Fireflies
current mood:  restless
current music: Nothing cause I should be sleeping.
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| Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009
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8:05 am - Moved
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So I've moved into a new place in London. I'm in the same area as before but a bigger yet cheaper place. I'll talk more about it later. Things have been both slow and crazy since I last posted. My brain is a little too fried from running auditions for a show I'm producing (and doing lots of other things that would give me other titles). We've got call backs for that today and will hopefully have it cast by Friday. I don't know if I'll be able to update tonight, but there will be a long-ish one tomorrow. I'll hopefully get caught up on reading by the end of the weekend.
current mood:  crazy
current music: Nothing at the moment.
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| Monday, April 27th, 2009
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11:21 pm - Yes!
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Pearl Jam is playing London on August 18th. They're also playing Manchester on August 17th. Please, please, please let there be some pre-sale tickets left for non-European Ten Club members by the time they go on sale for all members.
current mood: giddy
current music: Whirlpool - They Might Be Giants
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| Thursday, April 23rd, 2009
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1:11 am - She Lives
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I have no excuse for not posting. I wish I did.
For now, here's one of the most interesting opening paragraphs of a novel (Bad Monkeys by Matt Ruff) that I've read in a while. Maybe I'm a bit biased.
"It's a room an uninspired playwright might conjure while staring at a blank page: White walls. White ceiling. White floor. Not featureless, but close enough to raise suspicion that its few contents are all crucial to the upcoming drama."
In other news, I'm fighting off being sick, trying to work on this stupid essay, looking forward to ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) sombraala's visit, going to the theatre tomorrow night and lord only knows what else. I should probably also be sleeping.
Oh, and I found something that is even more vile-tasting than liquid Ny-Quil. It's called Beechams All In One. It's fairly similar in use though it's supposed to be non-drowsy. Anyway, it starts off with a slight citrus (maybe orange) flavor and then blends with a strong hit of menthol. It's as if you are drinking Vicks Vapo-Rub thinned out with a bit of oj. Yeah, it's gross. Oh, and the taste lingers so everything you drink after that for quite a while only adds to the flavor profile of horrible.
PS- I am more than a little bit in love with Lee Pace in eyeliner. I watched The Fall the other day and was quite impressed overall. Then again, maybe I was dazzled by Lee Pace, his close-cropped hair and his bare arms. Le sigh.
current mood: tired
current music: Nothing cause I'm going to try to sleep.
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| Friday, March 27th, 2009
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7:49 am - Go Ahead, Call Me A Liar
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I've been terrible about updating. I am still alive and well. Things have just been rather insane as of late with things going on back home in the States and craziness with school regarding back to back rehearsals, performances and assignments. I've got my last class this term this morning and then the portfolio due on Monday afternoon. Then a paper due at the end of April. So I do promise a real update in the near future. Maybe this weekend when I need a break from portfolio or maybe after it is turned in. We shall see.
In the meantime, I love you all.
And happy birthday, Eric. I couldn't have crafted a better brother. Plus I got to get out of school early on your birthday and give everyone in class bubble gum cigars. It was awesome.
current mood:  busy
current music: Nothing cause I'm getting ready to leave.
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| Friday, March 6th, 2009
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8:13 am - The Morning Will Come When The World Is Mine
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Things are still busy here and getting busier. I've got class this morning at Kings where an expert on Joan Littlewood is coming to lecture. Then Voice class to work on our section for the presentation. Drew and I are going to go to a matinee somewhere either tomorrow or Sunday and then talk about the scene study presentation. We are a small writing group of two. I need to see Watchmen at the IMAX sometime soon. Lots and lots going on.
Sunday's dinner was lovely. Monday I hung out with doom_apple and Greg. We talked and took a trip to Waitrose and made some food. Had baked Camembert and watched Best In Show. I sent them home with leftovers from Sunday's dinner. Not much happened on Tuesday. Wednesday was scene study rehearsal, a meeting with Tom (which went surprisingly well for me), scene study class and then the pub with Ollie. He had messaged me saying he missed me since we don't have any classes together this term except for Kings. I missed him as well so we decided to both go to the pub after class on Wednesday. Oh, and a group of us went to KFC before going to the pub. It's funny getting fast food since I so rarely eat out in the world and especially not fast food unless you count supermarket food (damn you, Tesco!). Yesterday was the archive session of the Student-Directed Study Group and then I went to Senate House to look for a Garry Winogrand book which, sadly, was missing. I checked out some other photography books and then went to directing class. It was a lecture on Brecht, but we watched a bit of the movie of Cabaret and now I can't get certain songs out of my head. Ah well, it could be worse. I decided to direct a scene from The Visit with Drew and Shaun for my Brecht practical exercise. We'll see how it goes. My presentation of my textual analysis of Suddenly Last Summer missed the mark somehow so I feel like I have a lot to make up for. Maybe since Brecht is distanced from emotion I'll be okay. Heh.
Anyway, I should get going since I've got to get dressed and out of here since I want to try to run by Maughan Library on my way into school. Though it might have to wait till between classes, except that our voice group may be meeting between classes. Ah well. It'll work itself out.
Oh, I'm thinking about possibly making a trip to the States in April. Not sure if it'll happen, but something I'm considering.
current mood:  awake
current music: Tomorrow Belongs To Me (Reprise) - Cabaret
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| Monday, March 2nd, 2009
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10:32 am - Busy Working, Sort Of
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I'll try to post for real later if I can. Last night's dinner went quite well even with some kitchen mishaps like rice not cooking like expected and ice cream melting too quickly. So in the meantime, I've had these in a document on my computer for a while and haven't posted them (or have forgotten if I did). I know I've done the Cyborg one before, but anyway, now I can delete that file. Woo!
( Acronym Generators/Name Decoders )
current mood: working
current music: I’ve Got Dreams To Remember – Otis Redding
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| Friday, February 27th, 2009
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1:35 pm - Tell Me What To Do So I Do Nothing Wrong
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Busy, busy, busy. I'm off to voice class soon where we've pretty much got to get our portion of the presentation together today since next Friday we have to show it to the rest of the class. Good times. Then afterward I'm going to see Anna in a show called Alice's Shadow. Yeah, that Alice. So not only do I get to support a coursemate but also see something using characters close to my heart (and ankles).
Tomorrow I've got a long writing session with my group for scene study. Sunday I've got people coming over for dinner and a movie again. This time we're watching Lawless Heart which is another one done by one of my instructors.
I have tons of other things that need to get done like right away. I'm going to try to be very, very good this weekend and get things taken care of. Last night when I got home from class and the pub (where Elektra, Shaun, Drew, Steph, Caterina and I had a long conversation over everything from music to what instructors are cute) I still hadn't really had dinner since the burrito place Drew and I went to had onions in everything. So I made some pizza and watched The Duchess. Might not have been the best choice for use of my time, but it was something I needed to do at the time. It was okay for a historical period piece.
I'm a little concerned (knock on wood) that something's going wonky with my computer. I think some combination of it running hotter than normal due to the different current here and perhaps too many bits and pieces jammed into the mini-case is causing it to turn off and do some other random unhealthy-seeming things. I really, really, really don't want to have to mess with getting a new computer or deal with building something new while I'm here. Computer equipment, in fact all electronics, are so much more expensive here. Bah. I'm thinking I might have to get a new case and motherboard and then cannibalize what I've got inside Daria right now. Part of me hates to part with her. I just think that maybe what I need has outgrown the ability to be in the mini-case. This weekend I'll do a double check to make sure that everything I need is backed-up on my external so that if it comes to it, I can make a changeover. Bah.
current mood: busy
current music: Rubicon - VNV Nation
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| Thursday, February 26th, 2009
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1:41 pm - Tasty, Tasty Cynicism
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| Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
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2:58 pm - Infinite Complexity Could Be Described By Simple Rules
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Been somewhat busy the last few days with watching horrible movies, classes, rehearsals, hanging out with people. Sadly I'm not all that exciting. I wish I were more exciting. Jenny was talking this morning about the possibility of being a personality. Yeah, it makes you less of a person but at least you're a personality. Part of me is very attracted to the idea of not being a person and instead being a personality. Unfortunately I think I care about other people too much to cut off my humanity enough to become a personality. Ah well. Something to strive for maybe.
Let's see... Saturday we had scene study and did our Albee/Bond scenes. That went well enough I suppose. I really didn't like my scene when I wrote it and came close to hating it when I saw it presented to the class. Not because of anything the actors did but because I thought it wasn't very well written. It felt flat and contrived and boring. I kept waiting for it to end and was wishing that I had written something shorter. It's the first near-violent bad reaction I've had to my writing so far this term. I'm sure it won't be the last.
Afterward a group of us (Warren, Elsa, Shaun, Anna, Sarah, Caterina and Amanda) went to the pub to have lunch and talk. Eventually a contingent of us decided to walk to Russell Square and hang out in the beautiful weather. Time wandered away as we watched two girls try to catch and perhaps kill pigeons even taking up a stick at one point to wield as a weapon. Dogs and people with cameras skirted the edge of the fountain which had water pulsing straight up from the ground. After the defection of others, Warren, Shaun and I wandered around winding up at Waterstone's and then heading to the tube to go our separate ways. I came home, hung out in my room and watched Tropic Thunder which wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I think I'd have been annoyed if I'd paid to see it in the theatre, but it wasn't a total waste of time.
I don't really remember doing anything on Sunday. Oh wait, I think that's when I watched Hancock and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. *shudder* Probably why I have blacked it out of my memory.
Monday I had rehearsal for Katerina's scene from Saved for directing class. We've taken out the accents (thank god) but I'm still not sure why, other than convenience, I've been cast in it. I spent a good chunk of rehearsal in a yelling argument with my willful and ungrateful daughter. Somehow I always end up as the mom, the sarcastic best friend or a guy. Meh.
Yesterday was another rehearsal with Katerina and then producing class. After class a few of us (Haley-Anne, Elsa, Shaun and I) went to the pub to hang out for a while. Elsa left fairly quickly since she had plans elsewhere that we managed to keep her from for longer than she had originally wanted. Haley-Anne went out a good while later though Shaun and I decided to stay and chat for longer. After a bit people who had been at the RADA Cabaret (Juri, Elektra, Katerina and Helena) showed up and we called them over to the table. We closed out the pub and all went on our various ways home.
Today is scene study where we're doing writing work based on improv. It'll be interesting at least. One hopes. It's really gray and inhospitable outside right now. It's one of those days where if I wasn't in Amanda's scene and I thought I could get away with missing class, I'd stay home and... well... probably watch more horrible movies. Probably good that I have to be in class.
I'm hoping to make myself feel better about not going to the Rise Against show on the 6th by making sure that I can see Watchmen that evening, possibly at the IMAX.
current mood:  gloomy
current music: Mandelbrot Set - Jonathan Coulton
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| Saturday, February 21st, 2009
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8:13 am - Sounds Suspiciously Like Sweetest Day
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I was on the internet the other day as I often am and started noticing all these ads and mentions of Pancake Day which is apparently next Tuesday. Now, in the States, if I saw an ad for Pancake Day I'd think there was some kind of fundraiser going on and someone like Chris Cakes was coming to a place for an all-you-can-eat pancake fiesta. However, I have learned that this is not the case in the UK. Oh no. No, Pancake Day (and mind you, when they say pancakes here they mean crepes) is Shrove Tuesday. The pancake thing comes in from the tradition of making the rich dish in order to clean out your cupboard of all the milk, butter and eggs since they aren't kosher for Lent (which was also news to me, but then again, Lent isn't exactly my thing). Anyway, basically Pancake Day is the UK's version of Mardi Gras. Now I kind of want to make up a King Cake version of pancakes. Or maybe I'll just make a King Cake and take it to producing class.
Oh, and for those unfamiliar with Sweetest Day, which I was until ludovico moved to Chicago where it was apparently a big deal, it is basically a day to celebrate your loved ones. Most people consider it a second Valentine's Day or even a reverse Valentine's Day a la Sadie Hawkins, but apparently it was started as a "occasion which offers all of us an opportunity to remember not only the sick, aged and orphaned, but also friends, relatives and associates whose helpfulness and kindness we have enjoyed."
I watched Mamma Mia! (the movie) the other day in a fit of Colin Firth withdrawal. It was as bad as I was expecting. But now I have ABBA songs stuck in my head even after the glorious music of my shopping expedition yesterday. After my hair appointment I went off in search of boots in Covent Garden. I was in The Office and Eric Prydz's Call On Me was playing. There was nothing in the store I wanted (when, oh when will the trend of high-heeled and/or knee-high converse die?) but I didn't want to leave the song. The next song that came on was also a good one, but I just couldn't justify wandering the store any longer. Then I had a similar dilemma when they were playing Thriller in the Natural Shoe Store. I should have just kept my headphones on and felt more free to wander in and out of the stores not tied to them by their musical PA system choices. Oddly enough I have no recollection of what they were playing in the Doc store, but that might be due to the fact that I was spending money and buying two pairs of shoes (one pair of boots and one pair of mary janes).
In other news, my hair is back to blue as one would expect since I had a hair appointment yesterday. Waaaaay back to blue. Once the color settles I'll see about photos. I've got class today from 10-1 and maybe later in the afternoon as well. It's probably a good thing since it forces me out of the house and doing something so maybe I'll spend the afternoon enjoying the beautiful weather we're having right now. The problem is that all the nice places to enjoy the weather will be packed with other people out enjoying the weather. Stupid other people.
current mood: okay
current music: Winner Takes It All - ABBA (in my head)
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hungry